Lakpa reports that the entire second group of Jacques, Suzanne, Geri, Vern,
Tsering, Mingma, and Fura Kancha have reached the South Summit. At this
point there is no or very low wind, and all the clouds have virtually
disappeared. Michael Fagin, our weather guru, also tells us the threat of
lots of snow this afternoon has been reduced to the usual afternoon
flurries. So all is good. Dave and the first group are just a little bit
below the true summit now, so I should be giving you a report soon when they
are standing on top.

Ellie

May 19 - 1:00 am On the Way to the Balcony

8350m May 20 - 1:00 am

It’s dark and misty at base camp, but we just got word that the team is
doing well up above. Dave says they are almost to the Balcony and conditions
are still good. That puts them on a good to fast pace, as it has only been
about five hours since they left the South Col. They will call in again when
they actually reach the Balcony. It sounds like they should be running out
of their first bottles of oxygen soon, and will be switching over to new
bottles. Our experienced sherpas are there to make sure the transition goes
smoothly.

Here at base camp it’s down to Sila and myself trying to stay awake and
trying to stay warm. I’m reading a book and Sila is plugged into some Nepali
music. Soon we will be switching over too – to a new monitoring team of Dawa
and Lakpa, who will hold down the fort until about 4:00 am when Gopal will
take over. After that most of us will probably be awake to follow the team
on their final hours to the summit.